Virat Kohli walked in to bat at No. 4 for India in the fifth Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday (January 3), narrowly avoiding a golden duck. Facing Scott Boland, Kohli edged a delivery to first slip, where Steve Smith dived to his right to take the catch. However, the ball grazed the ground during Smith’s attempt, as confirmed by multiple replays. Third umpire Joel Wilson ruled Kohli not out, much to the relief of the Indian camp.
Kohli’s form in this series has been a point of concern. While he scored a commanding century in the second innings of the first Test in Perth, his other outings have been far from consistent, with scores of 5, 7, 11, 3, 36, and 5. The spotlight remains on the veteran batter, who is India’s fourth-highest run scorer in Test cricket, as fans and critics alike await a resurgence from the star.
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Earlier in the day, Kohli’s arrival at the crease was prompted by Yashasvi Jaiswal’s dismissal. Boland struck in his very first over, with debutant Beau Webster taking a sharp catch in the slips to send Jaiswal packing for 10 off 26 balls. Jaiswal had been a standout performer in the second innings of the Boxing Day Test, but he couldn’t replicate his heroics in Sydney.
Virat Kohli’s first ball in the 5th Test… Out or Not Out? 🏏 Your call! 👀#ViratKohli #5thTest #OutOrNotOut #CricketTwitter #KingKohli #CricketBuzz #AUSvsIND @cricbuzz @DineshKarthik @gilly381 @stevesmith49 @bhogleharsha pic.twitter.com/WkR1CVxXgQ
— daniel (@rokkaladaniel) January 3, 2025
Beau Webster replaced Mitchell Marsh in Australia’s XI, with Marsh having recorded a four-ball duck in the previous Test. India’s decision to bat first, after skipper Jasprit Bumrah won the toss, didn’t yield the desired results early on. KL Rahul fell cheaply, scoring just four runs off 14 balls before offering a simple catch to Sam Konstas inside the 30-yard circle.
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India’s shaky start highlighted the challenges posed by Australia’s disciplined bowling attack. Notably absent from India’s lineup was Rohit Sharma, who chose to sit out the final Test. Bumrah praised Rohit’s selflessness, stating, “Our captain has shown great leadership by opting to rest. It reflects the unity in our team and our commitment to doing what’s best for the group.”
As the Test unfolds, India will hope for stability from its middle order, with Kohli under pressure to deliver in this critical match against a formidable Australian side.
